Tracey Leigh was born into this world May 11, 1982 and took the next 37 years by storm. She was a fiercely loyal little sister to her brother Joshua and a true “mama bear” overprotective sister to her little sister Allison. She gave her parents, Joan and Brian, a run for their money with her feisty Irish sass and they wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Her love of music originated with piano lessons and then grew to the clarinet and saxophone that she proudly played while donning the purple and white marching band uniform at Nashua High School, where she graduated from in 2000. Her love of reading and the written word led her to her degree in English-Writing at Plymouth State College in 2004. During her youth she was an active and very proud member of Nashua Assembly No. 9, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls and quickly rose through the ranks achieving the honor of being their state leader, Grand Worthy Advisor, in 2002-3. Through this organization she became a mentor and advocate for many young women in the state and deepened her love of community service and charitable work. She would continue this work with many organizations, especially the Order of the Eastern Star in Nashua. She was a Past Matron of Pilgrim Chapter No. 55, serving during the height of her chemotherapy battle, and giving back during her term to the Relief Assistance Fund at Grand Chapter who helped her at her time of need, and spearheading participants to join on the team “United for TT” during that year at the Walk for Breast Cancer. She served through her life on multiple committees in Rainbow, Eastern Star, and Scottish Rite, and through her High School and College career, often chairperson or president, as her tenacious ability to “get things done” was well known, sought after, and admired. Tracey continued her life mission to be of service to others as an employee of United Healthcare, where she advocated for patients across New England as a Communications Specialist. During her 7 long years of Chemotherapy she was proud to continue working through her treatment schedule, something that was always admired by the staff at the Oncology department. She was the extremely proud mother of Emily Paige of Hudson and worked diligently and devotedly for her. Emily truly inherited her mother’s strong-willed spirit and strength, love of dogs, and love of Alice in Wonderland.
Tracey joined her cousin Jimmy and her grandparents in heaven on May 2nd, 2019 after a 7 year battle with Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer. She was cared for by the wonderful Dr. Gautami S. Rao and the amazing staff at Foundation Hematology and Oncology in Nashua, for whom we are eternally grateful for giving us longer than we ever thought possible in 2012 with Tracey.
She leaves behind her wonderful precious daughter Emily Paige of Hudson, husband Ryan C Thompson of Lowell MA, her parents Brian J. and Joan L. (Shepard) Smith of Nashua, her brother Joshua C. Smith and his wife Lauren Favorite and their daughter Penelope of Chicopee MA, her sister Allison E. and her husband Joel Desjardins and their two boys Spencer and Duncan of Littleton MA, along with countless Aunts, Uncles, cousins, and many friends that turned into family. We love you always and forever Tre.
SERVICES: Calling hours will be on Tuesday, May 7, 2019 from 4pm to 8pm at Davis Funeral Home, 1 Lock St. Nashua NH. An Eastern Star Service will be performed at 6pm that evening by the members of Pilgrim Chapter No. 55. A Service of Celebration of her Life will be held on Wednesday May 8, at 1pm at First Church, 1 Concord St, Nashua, NH, with burial at Edgewood Cemetery following. Friends and family are invited to attend.
In lieu of flowers, and in the spirit of Tracey’s true nature of helping others, especially children, donations can be made to either ‘Dream Builders OES’ which would have been her OES Grand Family as Grand Martha, with monies going to assist children at Shriners Hospital in Springfield MA and Blessings in a Backpack; or to “NH Grand Assembly IORG” with monies going to assist girls in programs of Leadership enhancement. Send checks c/o Lisa F. Britko 307B Amherst St. #128 Nashua, NH 03063. The Davis Funeral Home, 1 Lock St., Nashua, NH 03064 is in charge of arrangements. (603) 883-3401. “ONE MEMORY LIGHTS ANOTHER”.